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FBI, IRS lock down Pilot Flying J headquarters

The Pilot Flying J headquarters in Knoxville, Tenn., were placed on lockdown this afternoon by agents from the FBI and Department of Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service for unknown reasons, according to the company and multiple news reports from local outlets.

CCJ sister site Overdrive has a full roundup of reports from local and national outlets, including a statement from Pilot CEO Jimmy Haslam — Click here to see its coverage.

Pilot Flying J did release a statement through its public relations agency Monday, confirming that the FBI had “sequestered” its headquarters but that all of its truck stops and travel plazas were open and operational. Here’s the statement:

“As of the afternoon of April 15, FBI officials have sequestered the Pilot Flying J headquarters on Lonas Drive in Knoxville.

At this time, we do not know the nature of the situation. Pilot Flying J is cooperating fully with the authorities.

Haslam is the majority owner of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns — a title he’s held since purchasing the team last summer. He had stepped down from his position as CEO then, but returned in February. In his statement released Monday, he says he “trusts there’s no wrongdoing.”

As a holder of a 4 digit Flying J fuel card, I was very upset reading this !!! I felt the merger with Pilot would not be of best interest to Flying J... Could have been worse, they could have merged with Speedway and their price fixing ways ...

I wish they had stayed the way I found them, 2 truck stops, great food, service with a smile !!! Greed shows it's ugly head, again !!! Actually 1.5 truck stops !!!